"Is the 3rd Dose Really Necessary?"... Booster Shot Concerns Amid Suspension of the Vaccine Pass

Temporary Suspension of Vaccine Pass for Restaurants and Cafes Starting from the 1st
Kim Boo-kyum: "The Suspension of the Vaccine Pass Is a Carefully Considered Conclusion Weighing Pros and Cons"

On the 1st, during lunchtime at a restaurant in Jongno-gu where the quarantine pass enforcement was suspended, a mobile device set up for vaccine QR code verification was left turned off.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] # Yang, a man in his 30s who works at an office, recently decided not to receive the third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Last year, when the vaccine pass was applied to everyday facilities such as restaurants, cafes, and gyms, Yang reluctantly received the first and second doses of the vaccine. He said, "I originally did not want to get vaccinated. But my company kept giving me the cold shoulder, asking why I wasn't getting vaccinated, and it became difficult to use the gym I went to more than three times a week due to the vaccine pass, so I took the vaccine reluctantly." He added, "I was hesitant to get an additional shot because I have a friend who suffered from vaccine side effects. But since the vaccine pass system was abolished, I thought, 'Do I really have to get it?' and decided not to get vaccinated."

As the government temporarily suspended the vaccine pass (proof of vaccination or negative test) applied to multi-use facilities such as restaurants and cafes starting from the 1st, voices of welcome are rising among citizens. They responded that the verification procedures required when entering multi-use facilities, such as QR code authentication, have been reduced, making it much more convenient. Some even expressed that they would not get the third dose of the vaccine as restrictions on daily life have disappeared.

Earlier, the government completely suspended the application of the vaccine pass from midnight on the same day for 11 types of facilities including restaurants and cafes, vulnerable infection facilities, and gatherings, meetings, and events with more than 50 people. The suspension of the vaccine pass came four months after its introduction in November last year. Accordingly, it is no longer necessary to verify QR codes or present negative test certificates when entering multi-use facilities or events.

Regarding this, Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum said at the COVID-19 Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters meeting held at the Government Seoul Office on the morning of the 2nd, "This is a conclusion reached after coldly weighing the pros and cons in response to Omicron," and "Above all, it was necessary to reduce the administrative burden on public health centers and focus their capacity on protecting high-risk groups."

However, the government stated, "This measure is a provisional one considering the current quarantine situation and policies," and "It may be resumed or adjusted depending on the emergence of new variants and vaccination status."

An official is modifying the existing quarantine pass notice at a restaurant in Jongno-gu, Seoul.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

COVID-19 vaccine non-recipients who had difficulty accessing restaurants, cafes, and other places due to the vaccine pass are welcoming this measure. Kim, a 26-year-old office worker who identified himself as unvaccinated, said, "I have not been vaccinated because I was worried about vaccine side effects. But now that the vaccine pass has been suspended, I can have lunch with my colleagues at work," adding, "I used to be cautious about making plans with acquaintances, but now I think I can meet freely."

There were also opinions that it is convenient because cumbersome procedures such as QR code verification have disappeared. Jeong, a 25-year-old university student, said, "It was annoying to have to authenticate QR codes everywhere. Also, my parents had difficulty with QR code authentication, so I was worried, but I’m glad the vaccine pass is gone."

However, as restrictions on daily life have disappeared due to the temporary suspension of the vaccine pass, some have responded that they will not get vaccinated in the future. Kang, a housewife in her 50s, said, "I was originally scheduled to get the third dose this month because of the vaccine pass. But now that the vaccine pass has suddenly been suspended, I am considering whether to get an additional shot," adding, "I don’t want to get vaccinated because of the side effects, but I’m conflicted because it is said to reduce the severity."

Earlier, the government emphasized that the fatality rate of the Omicron variant among those who received three doses of the COVID-19 vaccine was 0.08%, similar to seasonal flu.

According to an analysis by the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters of 136,046 confirmed cases, the fatality rate of those who received the third dose when infected with the Omicron variant was 0.08%. This is similar to the seasonal flu fatality rate of 0.05?0.1%.

On the other hand, the fatality rate of unvaccinated people infected with Omicron was 0.5%, which is 5 to 7 times higher than that of seasonal flu. Among the high-risk group aged 60 and over, the fatality rate of those who received the third dose was 0.5%, while the fatality rate of unvaccinated people was 5.39%.

Meanwhile, Jeong Eun-kyung, Commissioner of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, said at a regular briefing on the 28th of last month, "I think the suspension of the vaccine pass may reduce the incentive for young and middle-aged people to get the third dose, but the third dose is necessary to protect one’s health and especially to prevent severe cases," emphasizing "It is very important for those aged 60 and over who have not yet received the basic vaccination to get vaccinated because the risk of severe illness and death is very high."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.